Look After Us (4 page)

“Sorry, he can be a little shy.” I turn to the sound of the female voice from behind, and smile when I see a pretty brunette woman approach with luscious wavy hair and glimmering blue eyes.

“You must be Ava.” She embraces me with a warm hug, and I already love how welcoming the Bailey family is. “I’m Jo. I’m Junior’s mom,” she says once she steps back. “It’s amazing to meet you at last. Ashton has told me so much about you.”

“You too.”

I watch as her eyes fall onto Ashton beside me and they briefly hug for a moment. “Hey, Jo. How you doing?”

“I’m really good, Ashton. How about you? How’s life treating you?” Ashton wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into him. I can’t resist circling my arms around his waist, my fingers clutching hold of his toned stomach. He presses a loving kiss on the top of my head. “Life’s fantastic.” I grin, wondering how I got so lucky to find someone as incredible as Ashton. Jo smiles at us affectionately, but suddenly I see her eyes glisten with sadness, and my heart lurches at seeing the darkness cloud over. It lasts for only a split second before she blinks the discreet tears away and throws on her megawatt smile.

But I saw it. The pain. She isn’t as happy as she makes out.

She still loves Christopher and misses him as if it was only yesterday that he was taken from her. At that thought I feel myself clutch tighter against Ashton’s side, not wanting to let him go, because the thought of a world where he doesn’t exist is too unbearable.
A world without you is a world not worth living in.
Ashton once said this to me, and the magnitude of his words is exactly how I would feel if I didn’t have him standing next to me, living and breathing beside me, feeling the thump of his heartbeat racing against my ear. And I’m grateful that I haven’t been in Jo’s shoes and felt the immense loss of losing the love of my life. I’ve lost my sister, and that nearly broke me … but losing Ashton? I don’t think that’s a loss I would ever recover from.

Hell, it isn’t even worth thinking about. He’s here and we’re happy. That’s all that matters. Unfortunately, Jo doesn’t have that, and I feel incredibly sad for her. But being a mother gives me an insight, an understanding that her son, the son she conceived with the love of her life, is her saving grace. He’s the reason she keeps on breathing and has the strength within her to smile.

“So who knew your brother had it in him? Getting hitched an’ all,” Jo asks Ashton, suddenly looking unaffected, almost as if I imagined the look of heartbreak on her face.

That has Ashton chuckling in disbelief. “Yeah, it came as a shock to me, too. My player of a brother finally settling down. I never thought I’d see the day.”

“What are you saying about me, asshat?” Tyler says, walking through, what I assume is the kitchen.

Then all at once, the masses that are the Baileys follow behind Tyler and make a beeline for me and Ashton, surrounding us both in hugs and wet kisses, squeezing the living hell out of us. The hugs blur into one another and even after the daze-filled introductions, I’m still unable to put a name to a face.

When I’m finally able to catch my breath, quite frankly a little flustered from the family ambush of a welcome, I feel Ashton’s protective arm sling over my shoulder. He is looking down at me with a sexy, adorning glint in his eyes.

“Now you’ve all got your hands off my woman, let me formally introduce ya’ll.” He laughs before continuing, his Texan twang stronger than ever. “As you’ve all established, this is my fiancée, Ava.” He points to an older version of himself. “Ava, this old guy is my daddy, Samuel. The beautiful woman standing next to him is my momma, Alana, who you’ve already met. Then, this is Mia, who somehow tamed my little bro.” I look towards the dark-haired woman who’s in the arms of Tyler, her head resting comfortably against his chest, and give her a warm smile. Everyone laughs, which causes Tyler to scowl at us all. I get the distinct feeling he was a serial player and Mia was his game changer. Ashton wasn’t a player, or at least he told me he wasn’t, but I like to think I was his game changer, that I was the one who changed his life in an instant.

“You’ve already met Jo,” Ashton continues. “And last but not least, my grandma, Evelyn.” I smile down at his grandma, whose fragile frame is sitting firmly in a wheelchair. After I’ve been introduced to my future in-laws, Alana forces us all out towards the backyard where we all gather on the deck, drinking homemade lemonade. As I allow the coolness of the shade to override the heat, thanks to the overhead gazebo, I sit back and look over at Junior sat on Ashton’s knee. Ashton’s showing him where Seattle is on the globe, and I love the awed amazement in Junior’s eyes. I can’t keep the smile off my face as my eyes trace over Ashton’s flawless features, taking in his perfect cheekbones, his desirable plump lips, and the sexy-as-sin freckles on his nose. Ashton must sense my gaze as he turns to me and winks. That one move melts me to my core and I have to clench my legs together when the feeling of lust heats through me like molten lava. I’m so freaking hot that I’m just about ready to douse this ice-cold lemonade over my head.

“So have you told Ashton yet?”

My head turns into the direction of Mia, whose narrowed eyes are pointing at Tyler.

“Have you told Ashton what?” Ashton responds, intrigued.

Tyler looks over at me nervously before turning his attention to Ashton. I can’t help the way my heart picks up a little. Especially after the one look Tyler gave me. I have a feeling I’m not going to like this.

“You remember Riley?”

Riley? Who’s Riley?

“Riley as in my ex, Riley?” Ashton asks, still with a look of intrigue on his face. His ex? Why have I never heard of Riley before? Feeling confused and a little pissed that he’s never told me about her, I find myself looking between Ashton and Tyler trying to figure out where this is going.

“Yeah. She’s Mia’s maid of honor.”

Ashton looks taken aback for a moment, but not really affected—much to my relief. Then suddenly, he bursts out into a fit of laughter.

“Why would I care that Riley is Mia’s maid of honor?”

“Well, you know … just in case it gets awkward. With Ava here … I mean, Riley was your first love,” he hisses in a whisper, obviously hoping I don’t hear the end of his sentence. Well I must have good fricking hearing because I heard it all right; I heard it loud and clear. I stare at Ashton, but he bursts out laughing again.

“Tyler, I was seventeen when we broke up for Christ’s sake. I’m pretty sure she’s gotten over me by now, man.”

Tyler still looks a little fidgety but seems to have relaxed some. “Well I hope so, because she’s about to walk through those doors any second now.” He points to the patio doors from behind him and my eyes zone in towards them. I feel nauseatingly ill at the thought of coming face to face with his ex. Just when I thought I’d get to enjoy my weekend, I’m going to have Ashton’s past under my nose for the next three days.
Perfect.

Ashton’s fingers trace down my arm until they capture my hand with his. “Baby, are you okay?”

I try to relax my rigid body by taking a steady breath, but it doesn’t do a thing to ease the sudden bout of jealousy I feel centered in the middle of my chest. I glance his way and I can’t help but mutter, “Yeah … just waiting until I meet the love of your life.”

“Ava, look at me.”

When I don’t turn to face him I feel his finger caress just below my chin, forcing my eyes on his. When his greens are staring at me, freezing me in place, he says, “You’re the only love of my life.” My insides melt at his words, and I feel the ridiculous jealousy—along with my anxiety—fade away.

He moves in to brush his lips over mine, but before they connect, the sound of footsteps walking onto the veranda, halt us.

“Well if it isn’t Ashton Bailey.” We both turn towards the voice, and I’m left almost gasping for air when I see just how beautiful she is.

That’s
Riley
?

She looks as if she belongs on a catwalk, with her impeccable skin, her Barbie-blonde hair—which is styled to perfection—and legs that go on for miles.

“How the hell are you?” She rounds the table towards Ashton, and I watch in astonishment as she practically launches herself at him in a friendly embrace, squashing poor Junior in the process. Unimpressed, he shuffles off Ashton’s knee and heads over to his mom, showing her where Seattle is on the globe that is still clutched tightly in his hands.

“I’m good, Riley. How are you?” I turn my attention back to Ashton as she finally pulls away and takes the seat beside him. I glance down and notice how her leg brushes against his, a little too close for my liking.

“How long’s it been now?” she asks with a look of awe in her eyes that make my eyes tighten with scrutiny.

Ashton lets out a breath of air. “I don’t know … seventeen … eighteen years?”

“Fuck, you make me sound old!” She laughs hysterically.

“Riley, watch your language in front of Junior,” I hear Jo say, pointing to Junior who is oblivious of the bad word being spoken. Riley cringes slightly realizing her mistake before she turns her attention back to us.

“So, Tyler told me you’re getting married. Who’s the lucky gal?” Riley says, keeping her eyes solely on Ashton, almost as if I don’t exist. Ashton, however, turns his attention to me, smiling his sexy smile, his hand resting on my thigh.

“This beautiful woman right here. This is Ava.”

Her eyes finally land on me, and for a split second I see the look of surprise in her eyes. After a moment she finally speaks.

“Hey, Ava,” she says with a huge smile, which seems a little too fake if you ask me. “When’s the big day?”

“We haven’t picked a date yet, but we’re not in any rush.” I beam my smile at Ashton whose fingers tighten affectionately against my leg.

“Yeah, we don’t want to take the limelight from dickweed now, do we?” He smirks at his brother who, in turn, throws a freshly sliced lemon from his glass of lemonade at Ashton’s face. It misses his face completely and pathetically drops by my feet. “No, but seriously, we want to wait until Lily-Mai get’s a little older. So maybe next summer.”

“Lily-Mai? Is that your daughter?” Riley asks Ashton with a fond smile. Not me. Ashton. Yep. I already don’t like this girl.

“No, she’s Ava’s daughter, but I love her like she’s my own.” My heart skips a beat at his amazing words.

“So, any plans for more children?”

I shift in my seat at her question, my back rod-straight as tension soars through my body. I’ve known this woman for a matter of minutes and already she’s asked one of the most difficult questions a person can ask me. Just her asking that question makes me dislike her even more.

The thought of having any more children after almost losing Lily-Mai is terrifying. I couldn’t bear to go through the ordeal again with another child. I thought having more children was impossible—physically—but after numerous tests, my OB/GYN confirmed that I still have the ability to carry a child. There are some added risk factors—more so than with a normal pregnancy—but I can have more children if I want to. I just … don’t know if I’m strong enough to go through with another pregnancy.

I go to speak, to tell her to mind her own business, when Ashton stops me in my tracks before I can do so. And like the savior that he is, knowing just how uncomfortable I am, he changes the subject completely. “So what have you girls got planned for today?”

I breathe a sigh of relief when Riley seemingly forgets about her previous question and excitedly begins to tell us all the bachelorette plans for this afternoon, which consists of having medi-pedis, dinner, and cocktails.

“So, no strippers?” Ashton says with a glint of hope in his eyes. I roll my eyes, stifling a giggle.

“No. That’s tomorrow night.”

“Please tell me you’re kidding?” Mia blurts out, horrified. And by the look of the alpha-male glare coming from Ashton, he isn’t too thrilled with the idea either.

“Yes, I’m kidding!” Riley sputters with laughter. “We’re celebrating low-key, just like you asked. No strippers, no pole dancing … just a boring old bachelorette party.”

“But I’m having strippers, right?” Tyler asks Ashton with a mischievous grin on his face.

Mia smacks his chest causing a grunt to expel from his mouth, along with a chuckle. “Like hell you are!” she exclaims.

“Yeah, bud …” Ashton begins with a wicked smile. “With what I have planned for tomorrow night, the only person who will be stripping is
you
.”

Everyone around the table bursts out with laughter, leaving Tyler staring daggers at his brother. “Do your worst, asshat. Do your worst. But don’t forget, whatever you dish at me, you’ll get twice as much when it’s your wedding.”

Ashton crookedly smiles at Tyler. “Is that a threat, dickweed?”

“You bet your ass it is.”

“Those are big words for a little boy,” Ashton goads, obviously wanting to get a reaction from his brother.

“Fuck you, asshole,” Tyler says with an arrogant grin. His grin is suddenly wiped from his face when Alana smacks him across the head.

“You may be getting married in two days, but if you swear like that in front of my grandson again, I will not hesitate to wash your mouth out with soap!” Tyler pales at his mom’s words, and I can hear Ashton chuckling beside me.

“Why do I get the feeling that isn’t an empty threat?” I ask Ashton, subtly smiling.

“Because it isn’t. And I know because I’ve suffered the soap treatment myself—both Tyler and me—and let me tell you, it’s disgusting.” His face twists in a grimace, causing me to giggle.

“What about Christopher? Did he ever get the soap treatment?”

“Hell no. He was the genius of the family. He knew better than to piss Mom off.”

“You and Tyler must have deserved it if she went to those lengths,” I point out.

“We sure did.” He shakes his head and looks over to his brother. “I can’t believe he still hasn’t learned his lesson. Dumb ass.” He laughs before taking a drink of his lemonade.